Diploma in the New Evangelisation General Information The Diploma in the New Evangelisation offered by the School of the Annunciation aims to respond to the great need of our times - the need for a New Evangelisation of our culture at every level. It aims to foster joyful enthusiasm for the mission of transmitting the Christian faith, enabling the gaining of the essential knowledge, understanding, and skills for a creative and reflective participation in the Church s call for this New Evangelisation. Who is the course for? The Diploma is suitable for all those interested in passing on the Faith of the Church as the Good News of Jesus Christ. It is for all adults, and provides an accessible but thorough general foundation programme for parents and catechists. For teachers it provides invaluable ongoing formation. It will deepen the formation of all those in other pastoral services in the parish and wider Church community. It is also proving to be an excellent formation for priests. What does the course cover? The Diploma is an applied programme, covering knowledge and understanding of the Faith, and also providing the opportunity to grow in confidence and skill in the transmission of the Faith in a range of settings. For the Church, evangelisation means bringing the Good News into every aspect of human life and culture. Attention is therefore given in this Diploma to formation for giving an initial witness and proclamation of the Faith; formation in the Deposit of Faith, so as to enable the provision of a systematic and comprehensive catechesis; and an introductory formation in that deeper appreciation of the mysteries of the Faith, sacred theology. Year 1 Modules Module 1. Introduction to the New Evangelisation Module 2. Handing on the Deposit of Faith for a New Evangelisation Module 3. Drinking from the Wells of Grace: Verbum Domini Module 4. The Soil for the Seed: Contemporary Culture and the New Evangelisation. Module 5. Philosophical Requirements for the New Evangelisation Year 2 Modules Module 6. New Evangelisation and the Craft of Transmission 1
Module 7. New Evangelisation and the Search for Happiness Module 8. New Evangelisation and a New Apologetics Module 9. New Evangelisation and the Path of Beauty Module 10. New Evangelisation and the New Media How do I take the course? You study mainly from home, following prepared texts and online. You attend two long weekends each year in the beautiful setting of the Abbey at Buckfast. As well as having the opportunity to spend time with teachers during your stays at the Abbey, you have the support of dedicated personal academic tutors who provide regular guidance and feedback on your work. How much time will it take? The Diploma is normally studied as a two-year, part-time course, requiring approximately 15 hours per week over a 40 week period. Ten modules are taken in all, five in each year. Each module is studied over a two month period. Each module is equivalent to 12 UK credits (6 ECTS). Each year, therefore, students complete the equivalent of 60 credits, studying for a notional 600 hours; over two years, a notional 1200 hours, equivalent to 120 credits. This 120 UK credit equivalent would gain, if validated, a Certificate in Higher Education. At what level is the course offered? A stand-alone qualification from the School of the Annunciation, the Diploma is offered at Higher Education level and is intended by the School to be the first year of a full degree in Catholic Theology and Evangelisation. How will I be assessed? Each module on the Diploma is assessed through a single piece of written work that you will complete at the end of the module. In each chapter of the module there are activities - note-taking, reflections, postings, summaries, and so on - to assist you in preparing for that final piece of work. What is gained from study of this programme? Students successfully completing the Diploma will have: Knowledge and understanding Skills A secure knowledge and sound understanding of the central Christian doctrines about God, One and Three, about revelation, its transmission and interpretation, and about the work of creation and redemption, together with the interrelationship of these doctrines, as taught in the Catholic Christian tradition. A developed understanding of the meaning and interpretation of the Church s call to a new evangelisation. A broad knowledge and understanding of some of the main concepts and major religious, cultural, social and ideological features of the contemporary Western world that have prompted the call for a new evangelisation. An ability to communicate to a range of possible audiences the results of their study accurately, reliably, appropriately and attractively, within structured and coherent arguments. An ability to evaluate and plan for different approaches and strategies in the area of catechesis and evangelisation. 2
An ability to make sound judgements about the appropriate application of central concepts in the area of new evangelisation. Students completing the Diploma will also typically have an appreciation of the urgency and significance of the call to a new evangelisation, a love for the Church, her teachings and her mission, a faithfulness with regard to the transmission of the Deposit of Faith in its beauty and wholeness, and a reverence for the unique value of each person loved by Christ and called to communion in the life of the Blessed Trinity. How much does it cost? The fees for the programme for the year 2015 are 1,144 per annumn. This includes: accommodation and full board for the two residential periods at Buckfast, lectures, tutoring, module work and administration costs. Is everything included in the cost? The twice-yearly residentials are included in the course fees. The intention is to keep fees low in order for as many as possible to follow the programme for the sake of the New Evangelisation. You will need to find money for a few set texts each year. What are the required texts for the Diploma as a whole? The required texts for the Diploma as a whole are: The Bible The Second Vatican Council Documents The Catechism of the Catholic Church A Biblical Dictionary A Theological Dictionary Prospective students will be sent a complete booklist with the acceptance pack. When does the Diploma begin? The Diploma begins in the autumn of each year. This year, in 2015, the start date is: 24 th - 27 th Sept 2015 (Wednesday - Saturday). The second residential at Buckfast takes place on 14 th - 17 th April 2015 (Tuesday - Friday). How can I apply? You can request an application form by e-mail at: enquiries@schooloftheannunciation.com. Further questions you want to discuss? Please contact us by phone 01364 645660 or email enquiries@schooloftheannunciation.com. We will be happy to deal with any enquiries you have. 3
Course Overview. The rationale for the curriculum content and for its order is directly related to the Annunciation. It focuses upon the archetypal and historical fact of the Annunciation, thus uniting the raison d etre of the School to the offering of this Diploma and showing how the Annunciation is truly at the heart of the new evangelisation. In the Diploma, new evangelisation is presented as Christ the Word of God taking flesh in every aspect of our lives and society so that the work of redemption can be carried out. The programme is an applied one the aim is both to inform, providing substantial knowledge of the Faith, and also to form, each module contributing to the learning outcomes of knowledge and understanding, and also of skills and attitude. The character of the modules is a uniting of the spiritual, practical and dogmatic dimensions of the Faith. The course, then, is suitable for all those interested in passing on the Faith of the Church as the Good News of Jesus Christ. It is for all adults, especially parents and catechists as a general foundation, as well as being on-going formation for teachers. It will deepen the formation of all those in other pastoral services in the parish and wider Church community. Year One: Foundations for the New Evangelisation Module 1. Introduction to the New Evangelisation In the foundation document of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation, Ubicumque et semper (2010), Benedict XVI asked the Council to encourage a thorough study of the documents of the pontifical magisterium regarding the new evangelisation. The Diploma begins, therefore, in this first module, with a study of the meaning of the term new evangelisation according to the contemporary magisterium, including, Ad gentes, Evangelii nuntiandi, Redemptoris missio, Ubicumque et semper and Evangelii gaudium. Evangelisation is a word that relates both to the angel s message ( Rejoice! ) and to Jesus proclamation of the Good News. The module therefore opens with a consideration of the biblical roots of evangelisation. Moving on from a consideration of these biblical origins, the module studies texts drawn from the Pontifical Council for New Evangelisation s Enchiridion. Module 2. The Deposit of Faith and the New Evangelisation It is vital that students not only gain clarity as to what the concept new evangelisation means, but also a confidence and security with regard to the central content of the Faith. This is the focus for the second module. In this module, students study the Deposit of Faith in the context of the new evangelisation. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is the key text for this study and students examine how this annunciation of the Deposit is designed to serve each of the three moments in the new evangelisation: the proclamation of the kerygma; the comprehensive understanding and presentation of the whole Deposit in the Church s school of faith; and the movement into theological reflection on God s gift of revelation. The organic unity of the Faith is stressed, and because the angel announces Christ who both gives the message and is the message, there is a special emphasis here on introducing students to the central doctrines about Christ and His Church, Christus Totus. Module 3. Drinking from the Wells of Grace: Verbum Domini The Incarnation, foretold in the Scriptures, is today made present for us in the Eucharist. The work of evangelisation flows from the Mass. From the Deposit of Faith, who is Christ himself, the Word, the Diploma therefore moves to how the Word of God is transmitted through Scripture and Tradition, and leads the student to a focus on the point of unity for this transmission which is the Liturgy. Students here appreciate how the Word of the Lord is the soul of the new evangelisation and how this Word, present in both the Sacred Scriptures and in the Liturgy, is fruitful in the work of evangelisation, in each of the three moments. The module focuses on a study of Verbum Domini and treats equally of the Scriptures and their interpretation, and of the liturgy. Module 4. The Soil for the Seed: Contemporary Culture and Secularisation In the opening three modules, the positive contribution Christianity can make to culture has been emphasised and the focus has been on the springs and motivations for mission. The Diploma now asks students to engage with the context of this mission, with the field in which evangelisation takes place. The opening of the General Directory for 4
Catechesis asks for an analysis of the soil in which the seed of the word is planted. This module therefore moves to an analysis of contemporary Western culture, examining what has called forth the need for a new evangelisation, and what possibilities are present in modern culture as seeds of the Word. Mary is the model here, receptive to the Word so that it could take flesh in her for the sake of the world s salvation. Module 5. Philosophical Requirements for the New Evangelisation Whereas the focus of the fourth module was on the cultural and social aspects of the modern Western world, the fifth module complements that focus with an analysis of the philosophical and ideological trends in contemporary society, including the new atheism. Blessed John Paul II wrote of the need for certain philosophical requirements that are needed if the Word of God is to be transmitted. In this module, students study and appreciate the key foundational principles upon which the new evangelisation must be based - principles rooted in reason, nature and metaphysics. Year Two: The New Evangelisation of Culture Module 6. New Evangelisation and the Craft of Transmission Year Two continues to pick up themes from the Annunciation narrative. Module 6 on the Craft of Transmission emphasises the work of the Blessed Trinity in evangelisation and illustrates how human evangelisation is indebted at every stage to the pedagogy of God. In this module, then, students examine God s own pedagogy, his redemptive way of transmitting the new life of the Gospel. This path of transmission is one led by God s grace and involves the healing of the whole person from sin and its effects so as to share in the joy of the new life of the Gospel. Students discover God s unique pedagogy by studying his gift of himself in salvation history. The module looks at how the early Church reflected upon this to develop an evangelising approach to teaching and learning, drawing from the best of the classical world and crowning it with revealed truth. The module will include a particular focus on St Thomas and St Augustine s contributions to our understanding of this pedagogy, on how to teach and hand on the Faith. Module 7. New Evangelisation and the Search for Happiness God s pedagogy is one that attracts towards the good, towards truth and fulfilment. Students now turn to a Catholic understanding of anthropology and to the wider renewal of our understanding of life in Christ. The module picks up and develops the lines of renewal in moral theology, following especially the work of Servais Pinckaers who was so influential on the Catechism s presentation. There is a focus on the application of this understanding in the area of chastity and how the call to authentic happiness embraces this aspect of Christian living. The link to the Annunciation is made through Mary s virginity and its fruitfulness for the Incarnation. 8. New Evangelisation and a New Apologetics The second year modules have once again opened with a positive presentation of the Christian message and its contribution to personal happiness and to the wider culture. This theme is continued in this module which examines the character of a contemporary apologetics. The challenge of the new atheism encountered in Module 5 is picked up again and considered along with the challenge of popular new age spirituality. A response is developed based on the importance of the theological virtues, making use of Benedict s and Francis work on love, hope and faith. 9. New Evangelisation and the Path of Beauty The Church has recommended a via pulchritudinis as a particular path for evangelisation and this module follows naturally from that on apologetics. Mary, as the tota pulchra, because full of grace, and embodying the completeness of redeemed humanity, is again a focus here. The depictions of Marian beauty and other instances of created and grace-filled beauty expressed in the fine arts and in music especially are considered here in light of how these can contribute to the new evangelisation. 10. New Evangelisation and the Media The Diploma concludes with a focus on some of the new methods available for the transmission of the Faith. For media to be truly Catholic it needs the background of an awareness God s pedagogy, of the dignity of the person, of the beauty of sacred art and a Catholic way of apologetics. In consequence, the final module is a fitting point to examine how these aspects come together in modern media. The module is both a critical analysis of institutional and social media in the light of Church teaching and also an invitation to understand how to use it appropriately. 5